Cable-traction device.



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I. D. SMEAD- CABLE TRACTION DEVICE.

APPLICATION PILEP 0CT.9, 1906.

PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907.

I. D. SMEAD.

GABLB TRACTION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9, 1906 3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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BATENTED JAN. 22, 1907. I. D. SMEAD.

CABLE TRACTION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.9, l906 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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. sectional view of a portion of the apparatus,

scale; and Fig. 6, a detail view of one of the properly supporting the cable throughout the .vide a combined engaging member for the UNITED STATES PATENT oi FroE.

ISAAC D. SMEAD, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.-

CABLE-TRACTION DEVICE.

Application filed October 9. 1

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ISAAC D. SMEAD, a citizenof the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cable-Traction Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to improvements in cable-traction devices, and is designed more particularly for use in hauling loads up inclined surfaces.

The invention will be best understood upon reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein.-

Figure l is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus; Fig. 2, a top plan view of the roadway; Fig. 3, a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 5; Fig. 4, a perspective view of one of the combined hooks or coupling-supporting and cahie-driving devices; Fig. 5, a longitudinal showing the parts on a somewhat enlarged attaching devices by which the wagons or other; vehicles are temporarily connected vehicles up the incline.

. The main object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient apparatus for hauling wagons or the like up inclines, the con- 'means. for automatically disengaging the hook when the upper end of the incline is reached, means for driving the cable without upper and lower stretches thereof.

The invention has also for its object to prohook which is attached to the wagon, supporting means for the cable, and a driving button or projection which engages the sprocket-wheel, through which motion is imparted to the cable.

In'Fig. l is shown an embodiment of the invention, the endless cable A passing around a s procket-wheel B, located in a pit formed or provided at the upper end of the conduit or way in which the cable runs. Motion is imparted to said sprocketewheel through gearing drivenfrom any suitable source of power such, for instance, as an electric motor, steamengine, or the like.

's formed 'at'the lower end of A second pit 1 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22, 1907. 906. Serial No. 333,157.

the conduit, and a sprocket or sheave C is placed therein, said wheel being mountedupon a carriage or table D, which in turn works upon ways or tracks E. A weightF is connected to the carriage D and serves to maintain the proper tension u on the cable.

Where the system is installe I will preferably employ iron tracks or ways G for the wheels of the vehicles, and if the road or incline be exceptiona steep will also em loy creosoted timbers i )r the like. As wi l be seen u on reference to Fig. 5, these are so arrange that every other tlmber stands above the next adjacent timber, so that a roughened' roadway is formed intermediate the the animals attached to the wagons and keep them from slip ing in cold weather.

A slot I is 'ormed between the adjacent ends of the timbers, the upper end of the slot tracks G, which will afford a good footing for i being inclined to one side, as best. shown in Fig. 2, for the purpose of securing the detachment of the hook when the wagon has reached the upper portion of the hill or incline and the team has passed downward upon the reversely-inclined section J of the road. This downwardly inclined section enables the horses to secure absolute control of the vehicle just at the time the hook is disengaged from the cable.

The attaching device will preferably be made as shown in Figs. 5 and 6that isv to say, it comprises a hook K, pivotally connected to the lower end of a draw bar or rod L, the bar being provided with a ring or head M at the upper end thereof. Said ring bears upon a spring N, the opposite end of the spring bearing upon a flange or collar 0, formed upon the lower end of a slotted tube P. The upper end of the tube carries a plug Q, to which is connected an eye R, having attached thereto "short sections of cable S, which in turn' carry hooks T at their outer ends, said hooks being designed when in use to be attached to the rear axle of the vehicle 100 which is to be drawn up the incline.

The free end of the hook K engages a hook U, formed upon the upper member V of the combined clamp and supporting member.

As will be seen upon reference to Figs. 3 and i0 5 to slide out of engagement when hook no passing into the curved portion of the slot formed at the upper end thereof, and thus automatically disengage the hook K from hook U as the team passes onto the reverselyinclined portion J of the roadway. This is a feature of considerable importance in that it permits the cable to be run continuously and does not necessitate the stoppage of the team when it arrives at the upper end of the incline. So long as the hook K remains in the straight portion of the slot I the parts will be in engagement.

The lower member W of the clamp is provided with laterally-projecting ears X, which are of the same shape as the ears Y, formed upon the upper member V. Suitable bolts Z are passed through openings formed in these ears, and thus securely clamp the cable, which is seated in recesses formed in said members V and W. Extending laterally from each side of the lower member W is a stud-axle (1. These axles serve to support flanged wheels b, which will be preferably mounted upon roller-bearings, so as to reduce friction.

The members V and W are likewise provided at each end with a projection, which when the parts are assembled form disks or buttons 0, coacting with the sprocket-wheel to drive the cable.

Extending inwardly from each side of the conduit and adapted to support the wheels b of the upper stretch of the cable are tracks or ways (1, while beneath said tracks and in a plane with the lower stretch of the cable are similar tracks e. Arranged above the Wheels of the upper stretch of the cable are rails or tracks f, against which the wheels I) bear when a load is attached to the cable, as shown in Fig. 1 In other words, the upper rails f prevent the cable from being lifted and serve to maintain the parts in their proper relation.

Upon reference to Fig. 3 it will be noted that the hook U is of a width considerably greater than the hook K, so that there is no danger of the parts becoming disconnected until the hook K passes into the upper inclined end of the slot I. It is also to be noted that as the horses-pass onto the reversely-inclined portion J of the roadway they assume a part of the weight of the load, and as a consequence the hook K may be readily forced out of engagement with the hook U by the curved portion of the slot.

By having the cable driven by the combined engaging and supporting device it is not subjected to any frictional wear.

For the sake of convenience the members V and W,.with their attached parts, may be termed a supporting-truck for the cable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is i 1. In combination with an endless cable; means for driving the. same, the upper and lower stretches of the cable being in substantial vertical alinement; a series of trucks secured to the cable; a track for supporting the trucks carried by the lower stretch of the cable; a track for supporting the trucks upon the upper stretch of the cable; and a third track to prevent upward displacement ofbtl-he trucks on the upper stretch of the ca e.

2. In combination with a conduit provided with a slot; an endless cable mounted therein; a series of supporting-trucks secured to the cable; means for driving the cable; tracks for supporting said trucks; a fixed hook or member carried by each of the trucks, said hook standing at all times within the conduit; an engaging hook passing into the conduit and adapted to engage one or another of the hooks carried by the trucks; and means for automatically shifting the engaging hook disengaging the same when the hooks have reached a predetermined point in the course of travel of the cable.

3. In combination with an endless cable; a series of trucks secured thereto; a hook carried by each of said trucks, the hook being provided with an engaging face inclined toward one side; and a second hook provided with a complemental face, said second hook being arranged to pass through a slot above the upper stretch of the cable, the slot being inclined to one side at a predetermined point of traveLof the cable, whereby said hooks will be disengaged.

4. In combination-With an endless cable; means for driving the same; a conduit in which said cable is placed; a series of trucks secured to said cable; supporting-tracks for said trucks mounted in the conduit; a hook formed upon each of said trucks, said hook being provided with an inclined face; and an engaging member arranged to cooperate with said hooks, the engaging member bein provided with a reversely-inclined face an arranged to pass into the curved portion of a slot formed above the conduit, whereby said parts will be disenga ed when the engaging member reaches sai curved portion, substantially as described. 7

5. In combination with an inclined way or road; a conduit located beneath said road; an endless cable mounted within said conduit; 'means for driving said cable; a series of trucks secured to said cable; tracks adapted to support the wheels of the trucks upon the lower stretch of the cable; a second pair of tracks arranged to support the wheels of the trucks upon the upper stretch of the cable; a third pair of tracks extending inwardly over the wheels of the trucks of the upper stretch of the cable; a hook carried by each of said trucks; and an engaging member arrange-d to cooperate with said hooks, the faces of said hooks and engaging member being reversely inclined, whereby when the engaging member reaches the curved IIO portion of a slot formed above the conduit it will move to one side and out of engagement with a hook.

6. In combination with an endless cable; a series of combined engaging and supporting members secured thereto, each of said members being formed of two parts arranged to clamp the cable, one portion carrying a hooked member while the other portion is provided with laterally-extending axles;

wheels arranged upon said axles; and means for supporting said wheels throughout the various stretches of the cable.

7. In combination with an inclined roadway; a conduit arranged beneath the same; an endless cable mounted in said conduit; hooks carried by said cable; an engaging member arranged to cooperate with said hooks and to be thrown out of engagement therewith when said member reaches the upper end of the roadway; and a reversely-inclined roadway arranged adjacent to the upper end of the first inclined roadway, whereby the draft upon the engaging member will be relieved when it is moved out of engagement with a hook.

8. In combination with a conduit provided with a slot having a laterally-deflected portion adjacent to one end thereof; an endless cable mounted in the conduit; means for maintaining the cable in its proper course of travel within the conduit; a hook carried by the cable; a second hook passing down through the slot and arranged to engage the hook on the cable; and means for driving the cable.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ISAAC D. SMEAD.

Witnesses:

WM. M. RAYNoLDs, G. A, TENHUSOL. 

